Mass transportation system

ABSTRACT

A mass transit system for use in moving a load carrying vehicle along a predetermined route between a number of load handling stations. The mass transportation system includes an unobstructed tube transport means located along the predetermined route. A vehicle provided with antifriction support is conveyed through the tube transport means by the momentum of driving air provided by one or more pumping devices which extracts a fraction of the air flow and substantially immediately reintroduces the air into the tube to create or restore the necessary air momentum. The tube may be continuous or non-continuous and is characterized by uniform cross section and the fact that it provides the support for the vehicle. The vehicle is shaped in cross section so as to substantially fill the cross section of the tube but not completely, so as to allow driving air to flow continuously within the tube even though the vehicle may be traveling at a speed substantially less than the mean velocity of the driving air, as on acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. The vehicle body is also shaped to provide high drag characteristics so that it may travel within the tube at substantially the same velocity as the driving air. Loading and unloading stations are provided in the system in open communication with the ambient atmosphere, thereby allowing ease of loading and unloading. Each of the pumping devices used for delivering the driving air to the tube transport means is positioned between loading and unloading stations and is capable of producing a high mass rate of air flow at very low static pressure and the loading and unloading stations for the vehicle are positioned at points within the tube system where the static pressure is at or near atmospheric pressure.

United States Patent [191 Carstens et al.

[ Mar. 19, 1974 MASS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM [75] Inventors: Marion R.Carstens, Atlanta; Homer J. Bates, Roswell, both of Ga.

[73] Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Institute,

Atlanta, Ga.

[22] Filed: May 4, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 140,071

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.856,566, Sept. 10,

1969, abandoned.

A mass transit system for use in moving a load carrying vehicle along apredetermined route between a number of load handling stations. The masstransportation system includes an unobstructed tube transport meanslocated along the predetermined route. A vehicle provided withantifriction support is conveyed through the tube transport means by themomentum of driving air provided by one or more pumping devices whichextracts a fraction of the air flow and substantially immediatelyreintroduces the air into the tube to create or restore the necessaryair momentum. The tube may be continuous or non-continuous and ischaracterized by uniform cross section and the fact that it provides thesupport for the vehicle. The vehicle is shaped in cross section so as tosubstantially fill the cross section of the tube but not completely. soas to allow driving air to flow continuously within the tube even thoughthe vehicle may be traveling at a speed substantially less than the meanvelocity of the driving air, as on acceleration or deceleration of thevehicle. The vehicle body is also shaped to provide high dragcharacteristics so that it'may travel within the tube at substantiallythe same velocity as the driv ing air. Loading and unloading stationsare provided in the system in open communication with the ambientatmosphere, thereby allowing ease of loading and unloading. Each of thepumping devices used for delivering the driving air to the tubetransport means is positioned between loading and unloading stations andis capable of producing a high mass rate of air flow at very low staticpressure and the loading and unloading stations for the vehicle arepositioned at points within the tube system where the static pressure isat or near atmospheric pressure.

16 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAR 19 I974 3.797L405 SHEET 1 BF 3Mae/0w A? (Imam/5 Pmmmm 1 9 mm 33971405 sum 2 BF "3 FIGS v N \JWNseINVENTOR MAP/0N A? Qwm/s #04454 J 54 r55 ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMAH 19 I9743797l405 sum 3 0r 3 MARIO-N R. CARSTENS HOMER J. BATES ATTORNEYS,

MASS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of our copending application, Ser.No. 856,566, filed Sept. 10, 1969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pipeline systemfor moving people or cargo therethrough. More particularly, thisinvention is directed to a pipeline system for moving a vehicletransport means capable of carrying either cargoor people along apredetermined route between loading and unloading stations.

Pipeline systems have been used for a number of years for conveying ormoving fluids such as water, natural gas, and liquid petroleum productsfrom remote areas of source to areas of utilization.

Still other pipeline systems have been devised for conveying material,suchas cement, grain and pulverized coal. However, these prior artsystems utilized for conveying liquid and particulate material are notadapted for moving people or cargo handling vehicles along apredetermined route.

One of the reasons that people or cargo handling vehicles cannot be usedwith the present pipeline system arises from the booster pump meanswhich are required at intervals along the pipeline. Conventional boosterpump stations utilized for moving fluids or particulate material along apipeline would smash a passengercargo vehicle.

An additional problem presented in using a pipeline system for conveyingpassengencargo vehicles therethrough arises out of the environmentalrange of the atmosphere in which man is comfortable. The pressure of airsurrounding a person mustbe nearly like that to which he is accustomedand pressure changes experienced in passing through a booster pump mustbe small in order to avoid discomfort is his ears. If the vehicles areto be unsealed, then the air pressure within the conduit can deviateonly slightly from atmospheric pressure. Anotherenvironmental limitingfactor is the quality of the air within the conduit through which theunsealed vehicle moves. Small tolerance of chemical pollution, such as,carbon monoxide, precludes the burning of chemical fuels within thepipeline. I

A' number of attempts have been made to provide pipeline systems capableof transporting a cargo carrying vehicle. However, these prior artpipeline systems do not provide loading and unloading stations in opencommunication with the ambient atmosphere. The prior art pipelinesystems utilized complex and expensive means for generating highpressure air flow therethrough and these high pressure pipeline systemsdo not include means for providing ambient atmosphere loading andunloading stations. Further, the high. pressure air flow pipelinesystems are extremely expensive to construct and unreliable inoperation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above disadvantages of the prior art havebeen overcome by the present invention which basically includes a tubetransport means located along a predetermined route and detailed indimension to transport one or more vehicles therethrough by means of lowpressure air flow. Each vehicle is provided with anti-friction. supportmeans and presents a profile to the flow of air which is of high dragcharacterics andwhich substantially but not completely fills the crosssection of the tube. In this way, the vehicle may be accelerated to avelocity which is close to the mean velocity of thedriving air while, atthe same time, allowing air to circulate past the vehicle even when thevehicle may be traveling very must slower than the air. In this way,flow of the driving air is maintained so that the driving momentum ismaintained through the tube.

It is a feature of the invention that the means for driving the aircreates a large mass rate of air flow at very low static pressure. Suchmeans, again in the interest of maintaining air momentum throughout thetube and to avoid large pressure differentials, withdraws but a fractionof the air flow and restores its momentum by reintroducing the airwithdrawn at increased velocity.

It is a further feature of the invention to provide vehicle loading andunloading stations open to the atmosphere for ease of loading andunloading. In addition, the air pumping device or devices are positionedwith respect to vehicle loading-unloading stations such that thesestations are in regions in which their ambient static pressure is at ornear atmospheric pressure. Moreover, the loading-unloading stations areprovided with means for bypassing or otherwise diverting the drivingair, such that the atmosphere at these stations is relatively quiescent.

In one embodiment of the invention, a tube extends betweenloading-unloading stations and a vehicle is shuttled back and forththerebetween. Air pumping means located between such stations operatesto circulate the driving air in either direction while such stationsremain at atmospheric pressure, as aforesaid.

In this, as in other embodiments, the low pressure characteristics of asystem depending as it does upon the momentum of the flowing air mass,allows the tube to be made of lightweight construction inasmuch as it isnot called upon to withstand high internal pressures.

In another embodiment, an endless tube system is provided in which airis circulated by a series of pumping devices which withdraw system airand reintroduce it into the system so as to maintain a predeterminedmean velocity of the circulating air without establishing pressuregradients or total pressure differentials which are intolerable tohumans. At intermediate regions between adjacent points of airreintroduction, the system may be open to ambient atmosphere so thatthese points can be advantageously used for cargo or passenger loadingor unloading. The mornentum of the circulating air maintains it withinthe endless tube system and the absence of substantial pressuredifferentials allows the system to be constructed of lightweight form.

maintain its continuous circulation when a vehicle is stopped andwithout requiring the circulating air to sweep past the vehicle to thediscomfort of entering and leaving passengers or cargo handlers.Preferably, each loading-unloading portion includes a downhill sectionto allow rapid acceleration of the vehicle upon starting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustratinga mass transit system constructed according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating one form of airpumping arrangement;

FIG. 3 shows a modified form of air pumping arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one form of vehicle;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing a proposed manner of mounting thetube system;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the pressure gradients along the tubesystem;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section taken through one type ofloading-unloading portions;

. FIG. 8 is a sectional view on enlarged scale illustrating an end platefor the vehicle;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of the invention,schematically illustrating air flow therethrough;

FIG. 10 is a section similar to FIG. 9 but showing a furthermodification;

FIG. 11 is a section showing the region of a loadingunloading stationused with the embodiments of FIGS. 9 and 10; and,

FIG. 12 is a section similar to FIG. 11 but showing a modified form ofloading-unloading station.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, an endless tube system is indicated generally by the referencecharacter 10 which will be seen to embody a series of pumping devices 12having withdrawal and reintroduction regions 14 spaced throughout thelength of the tube system. As will be described hereinafter, the pumpingdevices maintain a circulation of air in one direction within the tubesystem without imparting any substantial pressure differentials.Instead, the pumping devices 12 are-effective to withdrawmomentum-deficient system air and reintroduce it as momentum-excessfluid. The tube system embodies a plurality of vehicle loading-unloadingportions 16 which are located between sequentialwithdrawal-reintroduction portions 14 and each such loading-unloadingportion 16 has a bypass conduit 18 associated therewith, for a purposepresently apparent.

The main section of the tube through which the vehicles travel and whichincludes the sections or portions 16 thereof, is of substantiallyuniform cross-sectional shape throughout and which is only slightlylarger than the maximum cross'sectional shape of the vehicles, ashereinafter described.

With reference to FIG. 2, the tube body is indicated vtion as indicatedby the reference character 24. The

inlet conduit 26 of the pump device 28 is connected to the withdrawalmanifold 22 and its outlet conduit 30 is connected to the annularmanifold 32 for reintroduction of the system air withdrawn through themanifold 22. In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 2, thereintroduction nozzle is of annular form as indicated by the referencecharacter 34 and its axis is inclined with respect to the axis of thetube 20 to intersect therewith at an angle of about 15. The particularangle of intersection is not critical, although it is desired that theair be reintroduced in a generally axial fashion within the tube 20 inthe direction of vehicle travel. As will appear more clearlyhereinafter, the system according to the present invention operates onthe principle of maintaining circulation of air and is not dependentupon substantial pressure differentials but is, instead, dependent uponthe momentum of the circulating air mass. Thus, the cross-sectional areaof the nozzle 34 is very much smaller than the cross-sectional area ofthe tube 20, i.e. in the order of one-fourth of the tube area. In FIG. 2the air withdrawal is downstream of the air reintroduction but it is tobe understood that this situation may be reversed if desired. However,in any event, it is desirable that the points of withdrawal andreintroduction be closely adjacent to one another so as to minimize anyabrupt propelling force on the vehicles involved.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified form of air withdrawal and reintroductionsystem-and, in the case shown, the withdrawal manifold 36 is immediatelyadjacent the reintroduction manifold 38; and, in the modification shown,there are a plurality of separate reintroduction nozzles 40 whichdischarge directly into the region of air withdrawal, substantially asis shown.

The vehicleadapted to travel in the tube system may be constructed inthe fashion indicated in FIG. 4 and may include a body 42 supported bysuitable antifriction means, such as wheels indicated by the referencecharacter 44, so as to produce minimal frictional drag directly upon thetube system; and the front end of the body is provided with a plate 46which is of a shape similar to the cross-sectional shape of the tubesystem but which is slightly smaller in area so as to provide acontinuous clearance space around the vehicle with respect to the tube,as is illustrated in FIG. 8. The body 42 may be open or providedwith-entrance and egress doors 48 and 50 and may be internally providedwith suitable seating arrangements as illustrated. The rear of the bodymay be formed by a plate 52 which, like the front plate 46 is flat, thepurpose being to provide a vehicle body which is not aerodynamic butwhich, to the contrary, provides a high drag characteristic so that thevehicle may be swept along substantially at the same velocity as thecirculating air within the tube system.

As stated hereinbefore, the system according to the present inventionoperates on the principle of fluid momentum and does not depend uponsubstantial pressure differentials to effect movement of the vehicles.This is illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein sequential points of airreintroduction are designated at the points 54 and 56 while the pressuregradient 58 between these points will be seen to cross the atmosphericpressure line indicated by the reference character 60. The totalpressure differential at any of the air withdrawal-reintroduction points54, 56, etc. is very small, say in the order of 0.2

psi for a mean circulating air velocity of 45 mph. so that the pressurerise experienced by the passengers in passing the points 54, 56, etc. istolerable without requiring the vehicle to be of sealed construction.This allows the vehicle to be made of very light weight form and theminimal pressure differentials utilized within the system allow the tubeitself to be made of relatively light weight form. In FIG. 6 the points62 represent intermediate points between adjacent sections 14 in FIG. Iand may also represent points open continuously to atmospheric pressureso that whereas the tube system is endless, it is, at the same time, anopen system inasmuch as it does not require sealing from outsideatmosphere. This allows the loading-unloading sections 18 advantageouslyto be opened directly to ambient atmosphere at such points 62. Thesystem air will be retained within the system due to its momentum andcostly filtering mechanisms or heavy constructions to withstandsubstantial pressures are not required. The circulating aspect of theinvention, on the other hand, allows air conditioning and filteringoperations to be I performed in an efficacious manner. Furthermore, the

construction of the airpumping devices and more particularly of thewithdrawal-reintroduction portions thereof which freely pass thevehicles without obstruction or impediment, allows the pumping devices28 to be located in remote locations, if desired, and with which thefiltering and/or air conditioning apparatus may be associated. Thus, theusers of the system may be isolated from the noisy components of thesystem and, as described hereinbefore, the entire structure may be madeof extremely light weight materials and techniques such as to allow, asis indicatedin FIG. 5, the construction of relatively light weightarches 64 to suspend sections 66 and 68 of the tube system overhead asby cables 70 or the like. Thus, an overhead mass transit system isentirely feasible according to the principles of the present inventionsince the tube system must withstand only very small pressuredifferentials and need support only very light weight vehicles.

As is illustrated in FIG. 7, it is preferred that the loading-unloadingportions 16 have at least their reentry portions formed of down-hillsections so as to allow the vehicles to accelerate rapidly back into thecirculating air stream so as to minimize velocity differentials betweenthe accelerating vehicle and the circulating air stream. The vehiclesmay be self-contained in that they may be battery operated and providedwith generators driven by their wheels to recharge the batteries, whichgenerators may also provide dynamic braking effect in a manner wellknown in the public transportation art. Additionally, electricallyoperated disc brakes may be provided and provision for operatorlessvehicles may be had by automatically controlling the braking systems ofthe vehicles. The vehicles may be operated in single or train fashionand may be simply provided with pneumatic bumpers 72 at their forwardand rearward ends as indicated in FIG. 4 for the front plate 46. Atypical example of a tube diameter would be eight feet with a frontplate diameter of 7.75 feet and a body 42 diameter of 7.5 feet. Withsuch an arrangement, it is possible to achieve the constant circulationof system air as described hereinabove even though the vehicle may bemoving at an appreciably slower velocity than the circulating air, byvirtue of the continuous clearance space provided between the frontplate 46 and the tube as shown in FIG. 8. The bypass conduit means 18 isprovided to minimize the obstruction within the system when the vehiclesare stopped at the loadingunloading sections 16 and to avoid subjectingcargo handlers or the passengers which may be entering or leaving thevehicles to the circulating air stream.

The variation between vehicle speed and system air velocity is minimaleven when heavy grades are encountered. Thus, based upon a vehicleweight of 5,000 pounds and an air velocity of 45 m.p.h., the vehicle iscapable of climbing a 10 percent grade at a speed of about 41 mph. Thereduction in. speed for a threevehicle train under the same conditionswould only be about 7 mph.

The system is unique in accommodating maximum vehicle speeds during rushperiods while allowing a more efficient but slower speed operation atother times, thus reversing the trend or ordinary bus or automobiletransportation For example, a system may be operated at a mean airvelocity of 45 mph. during rush periods while consuming roughly twicethe power required for normal operation at 35 mph.

In FIG. 9 a modified form of an air withdrawal and reintroduction systemuseful in continuous and noncontinuous tube systems is shown in whichthis pumping station is located between two loading-unloading stations,for example only, such as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In FIG. 9, theportions 741 and 76 of the tube extend in opposite directions from thepumping station section indicated generally by the reference character78 and the sections 74 and 76 lead to loadingunloading stationshereinafter described. Pumping station 78 includes an offset conduitmeans 79 connected in fluid flow communication at axially spaced pointsto the tube portion 74,,76. Conduit means 79 includes an air pump means80 located therein. Air pump means 80 is operable for withdrawing aquantity of air from tube portions 74 and re-introducing the quantity ofair into tube portions 76. The pumping station 78 could be provided withreversing means, whereby fluid flow can be selectively introducedthrough the tube system in alternate directions. In addition, it isnoted that the pumping station 78 is positioned on top of the conduitand thus does not interfere with the wheels on the vehicle. I

In FIG. 9 a schematicillustration of the fluid flow pattern is shownwherein the quantity of fluid moving in tube portion 74 upstream fromthe pumping station 78 is represented by Q The quantity of fluid flowingthrough downstream portion 76 is represented by 0,, and wherein Q,, isequal to Q As shown in FIG 9, Q, represents the quantity of fluid flowthrough the pump unit 80 and 0,, represents the quantity of fluid flowthrough the pipe line at the pump unit. Arrow K represents the kineticenergy increase through the pump unit 80, whereas the K represents thekinetic energy adjacent the intake of fluid into the pump unit and Krepresents the kinetic energy immediately downstream from theintroduction of the fluid jets from the pump station 80. In operation, Kis greater than K due to the kinetic energy increase K produced by thepump unit 80. Flow reversal, or vehicle stall occurs when 0, is greaterthan 0 Therefore, design ratio for Q /Q,; should be maintained at two orgreater. In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 9, when vehicles aremoving from right to left in the tube system, the air pump means 80 isoperated and the fractional portion of fluid inducted, by the pump means80, as indicated by the arrow 0,, is re-introduced as indicated by thefluid flow pattern.

In a tube system having one pumping station 78, the pumping station islocated between the opposite ends of the tube system preferably midway,providing as mentioned hereinabove, substantially atmosphere staticintake and discharge pressure at the respective loading-unloadingstations.

FIG. 10 illustrates a modification of FIG. 9 but utilizing two fans 98and 100 operable for effecting reversal of fluid flow in a tube system.Fans 98 and 100 have a common or respective air inlets for inducting thefractional portions of the air flow as indicated by the referencecharacters 102 and 104, it being understood that in the case of FIG. 10,only the fan 98 is operated for movement of the vehicles from right toleft and the fan 100 is operated only when the vehicles are moving fromleft to right. The wall sections 106 and 108 may be provided to effectcontinuations of the uniform diameter wall sections 110 and 112 leadingto the loading-unloading stations and respective air channels 114 and116 are provided to properly direct the discharge air from therespective fans 98 and 100.

For non-continuous systems each loading and unloading station at theopposite ends of the tube system may be constructed in accordance withthe showings of FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. In FIG. 11, the station is shownspecifically as associated with the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 and isshown to be positioned at the end of the tube section 112. At the end ofthe tube system as shown in FIG. 11, there is an uphill dead end section118 which is provided for the purpose of arresting the forward motion ofthe vehicle 120. The system is open to atmosphere between section 112and 118 to allow the driving air to be directed away from vehicle 120,as indicated by the reference character 122, and the vehicle, as itapproaches the end of section 1 l2, encounters the uphill portion of thesystem to pass the opening between sections 112 and 1 18 ultimately toenter the section 118. The section 118 is provided with a dead end wall124 and the diameter of the station 118 may be slightly larger orsmaller than the diameter of section 112 so that the end plates ofvehicle 120 will trap air within the dead end section and form a cushionwhich will, in conjunction with the uphill section, arrest the forwardmotion of the vehicle 120. An opening may be provided in the wall 124 toallow a predetermined amount of air trapped within the dead end sectionto escape therefrom in order to ease the stop of the vehicle enteringsection 118.

After the vehicle has entered and stopped within section 118, thevehicle can then coast back down to the position illustrated in FIG. 11for loading-unloading of its cargo. For this purpose, a ratchet holdermechanism (not shown) may be located in the floor of the tube system topermit the vehicle to pass into the dead end sec tion 118 but to arrestits motion at the position shown in FIG. 11 when it comes back down theincline. This ratchet mechanism is provided with a selectivelyretractable feature so as to allow release of the vehicle when it isready to return to the other end of the tube. Whereupon the vehiclecoasts down the incline section 126 leading to the mouth 128 such thatthe air flow, being reversed, will accelerate the vehicle to therequisite velocity within the section 112 and return it to theloading-unloading section or station at the opposite end of the line.

The fluid represented by reference character 122 which is diverted pastvehicle could be reintroduced into a second tube system located adjacentthereto, as indicated hereinabove.

FIG. 12 illustrates a further embodiment of the loading-unloadingstation to be utilized in conjunction with systems such as are shown inFIGS. 9 and 10. In FIG. 12, the station is again shown inassociation-with the system as illustrated in FIG. 10 and for thispurpose, the loading-unloading section is illustrated at the end of tubesection 112 of FIG. 10. In the case of FIG. 12, no uphill section isprovided but, instead, the moving vehicle 130 is illustrated in dashedlines enters the dead end chamber 132 ultimately coming to rest near thenormally closed end wall 134 thereof. The length of the dead end chamberis such as to allow the rear end of the vehicle as shown in solid linesin FIG. 12 to unmask a portion of the air chimney 136 which leads toambient atmosphere. Again, the fluid flow chimney 136 could bere-introduced into a second tube system located adjacent thereto to beutilized in driving a vehicle through the adjacent tube system. The airflow, consequently can be directed past the rear end of the vehicle 130and up the chimney as indicated by the arrows 138.

The dead end wall 134 is open and the cargo is unloaded and a freshcargo loaded into the vehicle 130 whereafter the fan system is reversedin operation so that the air enters downwardly through the chimney asindicated by arrow 140 and impinges against the rear end plate of thevehicle and drags it into the main tube section 112 for return to theopposite end of the tube system.

Thus, one embodiment of the present invention utilizes the continuoustube system wherein the driving air is circulated in a closed path,whereas another embodiment of the invention employes an open-ended tubesystem. In each of the embodiments of the invention, theloading-unloading stations are open to the ambient atmosphere therebyallowing ease of loading and unloading. Due to the inherent efficiencyof the basic system wherein a high mass rate of driving air flow isembodied within a tube to react against a high drag body which largelybut not completely fills the tube crosssection, both types of employmentare economically practical. The power consumption per unit weight of payload is low in either case due the basic arrangement. The vehiclesderive their support directly from the tube by means of anti-frictionmeans such as wheels and each vehicle is swept along the flowing mass ofdriving air. In our system, the static pressure is low so that the airflow may be generated by means of economical and conventional fans. Thetube system itself is not required to withstand high internal pressuresand so may be made very economically; and, as well, the ve-- hicles maybe very economically constructed since they need no provision forwithstanding high pressures.

It now becomes apparent that the above describedillustrated embodimentsof the present invention are capable of obtaining the above statedobjects and advantages. It is obvious that those skilled in the art maymake modifications in the details of constructions without departingfrom the spirit of the invention which is to be limited only by thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A vehicle transportation system comprising, in

combination:

a tube system having a main section of substantially uniformcross-sectional shape and adapted to convey a vehicle axiallytherethrough, said tube system also including a first load-handlingportion located at a first region of said section and a second loadhandling portion located at a second region of said main section, saidfirst and second load handling portions being open to ambientatmosphere;

drive means for producing a continuously moving stream of air throughsaid main section at a predetermined velocity and in a direction fromsaid first region to said second region of said main section, said drivemeans including at least one air pumping device located between saidfirst region and said second region, said air pumping device having aninlet and having an outlet discharging substantially axially toward saidsecond region said drive means creating a negative pressure downstreamof said first region and a positive pressure upstream of said secondregion but with, the pressure at said load handling portions being atambient atmospheric pressure while establishing air flow at saidpredetermined velocity; and a load carrying vehicle within said tubesystem, said vehicle having a body provided with antifriction means forsupporting the vehicle within said main section, said body being shapedto provide a high coefficient of drag within said stream of air andhaving maximum cross-sectional shape only slightly smaller than saidcross-sectional shape of the main section whereby the vehicle is sweptalong by the momentum of said stream of air while providing a clearancespace with said main section sufficient to allow the stream of air tocirculate continuously past said vehicle to said second regionirrespective of velocity differentials which may exist between saidvehicle and the air. 2. A vehicle transportation system comprising, in

combination:

an endless tube system;

means for producing a continuously moving stream of air in one directionwithin said tube system at a predetermined mean velocity;

a vehicle of high drag coefficient within said tube system and onlypartially filling the cross-section thereof so as to be swept along bysaid stream of air; said tube system having a main section ofsubstantially uniform cross-sectional shape throughout adapted to conveysaid vehicle and said stream of air axially there through, said mainsection having vehicle loading handling portions at spaced points alongthe tube system and which are in open communication with ambientatmosphere, and bypass means associated with each load handling portionto allow maintenance of the flow of said stream of air through the tubesystem when a load handling 10 pumping devices creating a negativepressure downstream of each load handling portion and a positivepressure upstream of each load handling portion but with the pressure atsaid load handling portions being substantially at ambient atmosphericpressure.

3. A vehicle transportation system comprising:

a tube of substantially uniform cross-sectional shape and free fromobstructions so as to pass a vehicle of similar section freely andwithout impediment;

a vehicle within said tube, said vehicle having a body provided withantifriction means for supporting the vehicle within said tube, saidbody being shaped to provide a high coefficient of drag and having across-sectional shape only slightly smaller than said cross-sectionalshape of the tube whereby the body is spaced from the tube by theantifriction means but presents a body of high drag characteristicwithin said tube;

drive means for maintaining a continuous movement of air through saidtube at a predetermined mean velocity substantially at which it isdesired to drive said vehicle, said drive means comprising a series ofair pumping devices each withdrawing air from the system andreintroducing it generally axially into said tube in the direction ofvehicle travel;

passage means for communicating said tube with ambient atmospherebetween the points of air reintroduction of at least some of theadjacent pairs of air pumping devices;

a portion of said tube at said passage means accommodating theloading-unloading of said vehicle; said drive means creating a negativepressure downstream of each said portion and a positive pressureupstream of each said portion but with the pressure being at ambientpressure at said loading-unloading portions; and

means for allowing the driving air freely to bypass said portions when avehicle is stopped therein.

4. A vehicle transportation system comprising:

a tube of substantially uniform cross-sectional shape and smoothinterior and free from obstructions so as to pass a vehicle of similarsection freely and without impediment;

a vehicle within said tube, said vehicle having a body provided withantifriction means for supporting the vehicle within the tube and fromthe tube interior, said body being shaped to provide a high coefficientof drag and having a cross-sectional shape only slightly smaller thansaid cross-sectional shape of the tube whereby the body is spaced fromthe tube but presents a body of high drag characteristic within saidtube;

drive means for maintaining a continuous movement of air through saidtube at a predetermined mean velocity substantially at which it isdesired to drive said vehicle, said drive means comprising at least oneair pumping device withdrawing air from the system reintroducing itgenerally axially into said tube in the direction of vehicle travel;

said tube having vehicle loading-unloading portions which are in opencommunication with ambient atmosphere; and

said drive means being positioned between said loading-unloadingportions and operatively connected for creating in said tube a negativepressure up stream of said drive means and a positive pressuredownstream of said drive means but with the pressure at said vehicleloading-unloading portions being at ambient atmospheric pressure.

5. A mass transit system comprising, in combination:

an endless tube of substantially uniform crosssectional shape throughoutand free from obstructions so as to pass a vehicle of similar sectionfreely and without impediment;

a passenger vehicle within said tube, said vehicle having a bodyprovided with means for supporting the vehicle within said tube, saidbody being shaped to provide a high coefficient of drag within said tubeand having a cross-sectional shape only slightly smaller than saidcross-sectional shape of the tube whereby the vehicle presents a body ofhigh drag characteristic within said tube while allowing air to flowpast the vehicle;

drive means for maintaining a continuous movement of air through saidtube at a predetermined mean velocity substantially at which it isdesired to drive said vehicle, said drive means comprising a series ofair pumping devices each withdrawing air from the system andreintroducing it generally axially into said tube in the direction ofvehicle travel;

passage means for communicating said tube with ambient atmospherebetween the points of air reintroduction of at least some of theadjacent pairs of air pumping devices, and the points of airreintroduction being serially spaced throughout the length of the tubesufficiently close to obtain a pressure drop at the region of eachwithdrawal and reintroduction which is tolerable to humans;

a portion of said tube atleast one of said passage means accommodatingthe loading and unloading of passengers;

and means for routing the driving air around said vehicle when saidvehicle is at rest at said portion.

6. In a vehicle transportation system as defined in claim 1 wherein saiddrive means is operative to generate air flow in either directiontherethrough.

7. In a cargo transport system,

a tube having a substantially uniform cross-section for guiding avehicle therein;

' means for generating a high mass rate of flow of low pressure airwithin said tube in either direction therethrough, said means includinga fan device having an air intake inducting a fractional part only ofthe flowing air and having an air outlet discharging air substantiallyaxially within the tube;

a wheeled vehicle supported in said tube, said vehicle having across-section provided substantially but not completely filling the tugecross-section thereby to be swept along by said high mass rate of flowof low pressure air while allowing air-to flow therepast so as tomaintain the flow of air within said tube regardless of the relativevelocity of said vehicle with respect to the velocity of the air flowwithin said tube; and

wherein each end of said tube is open to the atmosphere at both endsprovided with an opening to ambient atmosphere and a dead-end sectionbeyond each such opening.

8. An air driving device for use in conveying a high drag characteristicvehicle freely through a tube on anti-friction devices connected to thevehicle adjacent the bottom thereof between a loading portion and anunloading portion of the tube comprising:

said driving device including an unobstructed inlet, a

pump, and a nozzle in series, all of which are positioned outside saidtube for maintaining a movement of air axially within said tube;

said inlet being upstream from the nozzle and both said inlet and nozzlebeing connected to the tube adjacent only the top of the tube therebyavoiding interference with the antifriction devices on the vehicle;

said inlet and nozzle being positioned between said loading portion andsaid unloading portion of the tube; and i said driving device beingsized whereby the quantity of flow through the pump is less than halfthe flow in the tube 9. A vehicle transportation system comprising, atube of substantially uniform cross-sectional shape and smooth interiorand free from obstructions so as to pass a vehicle of similar sectionfreely and without impediment;

a vehicle within said tube, said vehicle having a body said tube havingvehicle loading and unloading portions which are in open communicationwith the ambient atmosphere;

drive means for maintaining a movement of air through said tube at apredetermined mean velocity substantially at which it is desired todrive said vehicle, said drive means including an inlet, a pump, and anozzle in series, all of which are positioned outside said tube, saidinlet being upstream from the nozzle and both said inlet and nozzlebeing connected to the tube adjacent only the top of the tube therebyavoiding interference with the anti-friction devices on the vehicle,said inlet and nozzle being positioned between a loading and anunloading portion of the tube, and said pumping device sized whereby thequantity of flow through the pumping device is a fraction of thequantity of flow through the tube.

10. A mass transit system for use in moving a loadcarrying vehicle alonga predetermined route between a number of load handling stationscomprising, in combination:

a. a load-carrying vehicle;

b. transport tube means located along said predetermined route, saidtube means detailed in design to provide a conveying means for saidload-carrying vehicle;

. at least two load handling stations operatively assodrive meansconnected between said load handling stations for producing a high massrate flow stream of low pressure air filling said tube means and flowingin the direction from one load handling station toward the other loadhandling station wherein the flow of air exhibits a negative pressuredownstream of said one load handling station and a positive pressureupstream of said other load handling station and wherein each said loadhandling station is open to ambient atmosphere, and

c. said load-carrying vehicle being of a shape to present a highcoefficient of drag in said stream of air and having a cross-sectionalshape allowing flow of said stream of air to be maintained within andthrough said tube means irrespective of the disposition and velocity ofsaid vehicle in said stream.

11. The apparatus of claim wherein the air pressure in the conduit isless than 1 psi.

12. A vehicle transportation system comprising,

a conduit system having a main section of substantially uniformcross-sectional shape for conveying a vehicle axially therethrough, saidconduit system including a loading portion located at a first region ofsaid section and an unloading portion located at a second region of saidmain section, said loading and unloading portions being open toatmospheric pressure at both ends and including a dead-end sectionbeyond each end, and said conduit system including air by-pass meansarranged in parallel with each said loading portion and said unloadingportion,

drive means for continuously producing a flow of air within said systemfor moving a vehicle through said system, said drive means including abooster pump between the loading and the unloading portions to maintaina negative pressure downstream of the loading station to said boosterpump and a positive pressure from said booster pump to the un loadingstation,

a load carrying vehicle within said system, said vehicle having a bodyprovided with antifriction means for supporting the vehicle within saidmain section, said body being shaped to present a high coefficient ofdrag in said flow' of air and having a maximum cross-sectional shapesmaller than said main section whereby the vehicle is swept along by themomentum of said air while providing a clearance space between theinterior of the conduit system and the vehicle to allow the aircontinuously to flow within said system. 13. A mass transit system inaccordance with claim 5 wherein said air pumping devices each have aninlet communicating with said tube and jet outlet means discharginggenerally axially into said tube in the direction of vehicle travel, theinlet and jet outlet means of each air pumping device being disposed inclose adjacency.

14. A vehicle transportation system in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid air pumping device has an air intake inducting a fractional partonly of the flowing air and having an air outlet discharging airsubstantially axially within the tube.

15. A vehicle transportation system in accordance with claim 2 whereinsaid means for producing a continuously moving stream of air includes afan device having an air intake inducting a fractional part only of theflowing air and having an air outlet discharging air substantiallyaxially within the tube.

16. A vehicle transportation system in accordance with claim 1 includingmeans for diverting a portion of said air flow past each load handlingportion whereby air may flow continuously through the main section whilea vehicle is positioned at said load handling portion.

Patent Calm L 9 This Column 2, line 9, line iieiumn 11, line (SEAL)Attest:

iii-a. un; i.

MCCOY M0 GIBSON; JR. Attesting Officer} change change change changebated M rch 19 1W4 Inventcr(5) Maxim-i R. fie'sscens Heme J. Bates it iscertified that errcr appears in the above-identified patent and the:said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

"15 to "in-- "must" to --much "loading" to --load--. i

"'tuge" to --tube l I Q g Signed s ea legi this 10th day bf'sefxtembef'197 0. MARSHALL D'ANN Commissioner of. Patents

1. A vehicle transportation system comprising, in combination: a tubesystem having a main section of substantially uniform cross-sectionalshape and adapted to convey a vehicle axially therethrough, said tubesystem also including a first loadhandling portion located at a firstregion of said section and a second load handling portion located at asecond region of said main section, said first and second load handlingportions being open to ambient atmosphere; drive means for producing acontinuously moving stream of air through said main section at apredetermined velocity and in a direction from said first region to saidsecond region of said main section, said drive means including at leastone air pumping device located between said first region and said secondregion, said air pumping device having an inlet and having an outletdischarging substantially axially toward said second region said drivemeans creating a negative pressure downstream of said first region and apositive pressure upstream of said second region but with the pressureat said load handling portions being at ambient atmospheric pressurewhile establishing air flow at said predetermined velocity; and a loadcarrying vehicle within said tube system, said vehicle having a bodyprovided with antifriction means for supporting the vehicle within saidmain section, said body being shaped to provide a high coefficient ofdrag within said stream of air and having maximum cross-sectional shapeonly slightly smaller than said cross-sectional shape of the mainsection whereby the vehicle is swept along by the momentum of saidstream of air while providing a clearance space with said main sectionsufficient to allow the stream of air to circulate continuously pastsaid vehicle to said second region irrespective of velocitydifferentials which may exist between said vehicle and the air.
 2. Avehicle transportation system comprising, in combination: an endlesstube system; means for producing a continuously moving stream of air inone direction within said tube system at a predetermined mean velocity;a vehicle of high drag coefficient within said tube system and onlypartially filling the cross-section thereof so as to be swept along bysaid stream oF air; said tube system having a main section ofsubstantially uniform cross-sectional shape throughout adapted to conveysaid vehicle and said stream of air axially there through, said mainsection having vehicle loading handling portions at spaced points alongthe tube system and which are in open communication with ambientatmosphere, and bypass means associated with each load handling portionto allow maintenance of the flow of said stream of air through the tubesystem when a load handling portion contains a vehicle at rest; saidmeans comprising a series of air pumping devices withdrawing system airat spaced points along said tube system and reintroducing itsubstantially axially thereinto in said one direction adjacent to thewithdrawal points; and said load-handling portions being disposedbetween adjacent points of air reintroduction, and said air pumpingdevices creating a negative pressure downstream of each load handlingportion and a positive pressure upstream of each load handling portionbut with the pressure at said load handling portions being substantiallyat ambient atmospheric pressure.
 3. A vehicle transportation systemcomprising: a tube of substantially uniform cross-sectional shape andfree from obstructions so as to pass a vehicle of similar section freelyand without impediment; a vehicle within said tube, said vehicle havinga body provided with antifriction means for supporting the vehiclewithin said tube, said body being shaped to provide a high coefficientof drag and having a cross-sectional shape only slightly smaller thansaid cross-sectional shape of the tube whereby the body is spaced fromthe tube by the antifriction means but presents a body of high dragcharacteristic within said tube; drive means for maintaining acontinuous movement of air through said tube at a predetermined meanvelocity substantially at which it is desired to drive said vehicle,said drive means comprising a series of air pumping devices eachwithdrawing air from the system and reintroducing it generally axiallyinto said tube in the direction of vehicle travel; passage means forcommunicating said tube with ambient atmosphere between the points ofair reintroduction of at least some of the adjacent pairs of air pumpingdevices; a portion of said tube at said passage means accommodating theloading-unloading of said vehicle; said drive means creating a negativepressure downstream of each said portion and a positive pressureupstream of each said portion but with the pressure being at ambientpressure at said loading-unloading portions; and means for allowing thedriving air freely to by-pass said portions when a vehicle is stoppedtherein.
 4. A vehicle transportation system comprising: a tube ofsubstantially uniform cross-sectional shape and smooth interior and freefrom obstructions so as to pass a vehicle of similar section freely andwithout impediment; a vehicle within said tube, said vehicle having abody provided with antifriction means for supporting the vehicle withinthe tube and from the tube interior, said body being shaped to provide ahigh coefficient of drag and having a cross-sectional shape onlyslightly smaller than said cross-sectional shape of the tube whereby thebody is spaced from the tube but presents a body of high dragcharacteristic within said tube; drive means for maintaining acontinuous movement of air through said tube at a predetermined meanvelocity substantially at which it is desired to drive said vehicle,said drive means comprising at least one air pumping device withdrawingair from the system reintroducing it generally axially into said tube inthe direction of vehicle travel; said tube having vehicleloading-unloading portions which are in open communication with ambientatmosphere; and said drive means being positioned between saidloading-unloading portions and operatively connected for creating insaid tube a negative pressure upstream of sAid drive means and apositive pressure downstream of said drive means but with the pressureat said vehicle loading-unloading portions being at ambient atmosphericpressure.
 5. A mass transit system comprising, in combination: anendless tube of substantially uniform cross-sectional shape throughoutand free from obstructions so as to pass a vehicle of similar sectionfreely and without impediment; a passenger vehicle within said tube,said vehicle having a body provided with means for supporting thevehicle within said tube, said body being shaped to provide a highcoefficient of drag within said tube and having a cross-sectional shapeonly slightly smaller than said cross-sectional shape of the tubewhereby the vehicle presents a body of high drag characteristic withinsaid tube while allowing air to flow past the vehicle; drive means formaintaining a continuous movement of air through said tube at apredetermined mean velocity substantially at which it is desired todrive said vehicle, said drive means comprising a series of air pumpingdevices each withdrawing air from the system and reintroducing itgenerally axially into said tube in the direction of vehicle travel;passage means for communicating said tube with ambient atmospherebetween the points of air reintroduction of at least some of theadjacent pairs of air pumping devices, and the points of airreintroduction being serially spaced throughout the length of the tubesufficiently close to obtain a pressure drop at the region of eachwithdrawal and reintroduction which is tolerable to humans; a portion ofsaid tube at least one of said passage means accommodating the loadingand unloading of passengers; and means for routing the driving airaround said vehicle when said vehicle is at rest at said portion.
 6. Ina vehicle transportation system as defined in claim 1 wherein said drivemeans is operative to generate air flow in either directiontherethrough.
 7. In a cargo transport system, a tube having asubstantially uniform cross-section for guiding a vehicle therein; meansfor generating a high mass rate of flow of low pressure air within saidtube in either direction therethrough, said means including a fan devicehaving an air intake inducting a fractional part only of the flowing airand having an air outlet discharging air substantially axially withinthe tube; a wheeled vehicle supported in said tube, said vehicle havinga cross-section provided substantially but not completely filling thetuge cross-section thereby to be swept along by said high mass rate offlow of low pressure air while allowing air to flow therepast so as tomaintain the flow of air within said tube regardless of the relativevelocity of said vehicle with respect to the velocity of the air flowwithin said tube; and wherein each end of said tube is open to theatmosphere at both ends provided with an opening to ambient atmosphereand a dead-end section beyond each such opening.
 8. An air drivingdevice for use in conveying a high drag characteristic vehicle freelythrough a tube on anti-friction devices connected to the vehicleadjacent the bottom thereof between a loading portion and an unloadingportion of the tube comprising: said driving device including anunobstructed inlet, a pump, and a nozzle in series, all of which arepositioned outside said tube for maintaining a movement of air axiallywithin said tube; said inlet being upstream from the nozzle and bothsaid inlet and nozzle being connected to the tube adjacent only the topof the tube thereby avoiding interference with the antifriction deviceson the vehicle; said inlet and nozzle being positioned between saidloading portion and said unloading portion of the tube; and said drivingdevice being sized whereby the quantity of flow through the pump is lessthan half the flow in the tube
 9. A vehicle transportation systemcomprising, a tube of substantially uniform cross-sectional shaPe andsmooth interior and free from obstructions so as to pass a vehicle ofsimilar section freely and without impediment; a vehicle within saidtube, said vehicle having a body provided with anti-friction meansadjacent the bottom thereof for supporting the vehicle within the tubeand from the tube interior, said body having a cross-sectional shapeonly slightly smaller than said cross-sectional shape of the tubewhereby the body is spaced from the tube but presents a body of highdrag characteristic within said tube; said tube having vehicle loadingand unloading portions which are in open communication with the ambientatmosphere; drive means for maintaining a movement of air through saidtube at a predetermined mean velocity substantially at which it isdesired to drive said vehicle, said drive means including an inlet, apump, and a nozzle in series, all of which are positioned outside saidtube, said inlet being upstream from the nozzle and both said inlet andnozzle being connected to the tube adjacent only the top of the tubethereby avoiding interference with the anti-friction devices on thevehicle, said inlet and nozzle being positioned between a loading and anunloading portion of the tube, and said pumping device sized whereby thequantity of flow through the pumping device is a fraction of thequantity of flow through the tube.
 10. A mass transit system for use inmoving a load-carrying vehicle along a predetermined route between anumber of load handling stations comprising, in combination: a. aload-carrying vehicle; b. transport tube means located along saidpredetermined route, said tube means detailed in design to provide aconveying means for said load-carrying vehicle; c. at least two loadhandling stations operatively associated with said tube means at axiallyspaced locations for loading and unloading relative of said vehicle,each station including a vehicle-receiving section and an air by-passsection in which said sections are arranged to provide parallel branchesof said tube means and wherein said vehicle-receiving section is open toambient atmosphere; d. drive means connected between said load handlingstations for producing a high mass rate flow stream of low pressure airfilling said tube means and flowing in the direction from one loadhandling station toward the other load handling station wherein the flowof air exhibits a negative pressure downstream of said one load handlingstation and a positive pressure upstream of said other load handlingstation and wherein each said load handling station is open to ambientatmosphere, and e. said load-carrying vehicle being of a shape topresent a high coefficient of drag in said stream of air and having across-sectional shape allowing flow of said stream of air to bemaintained within and through said tube means irrespective of thedisposition and velocity of said vehicle in said stream.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 5 wherein the air pressure in the conduit is lessthan 1 psi.
 12. A vehicle transportation system comprising, a conduitsystem having a main section of substantially uniform cross-sectionalshape for conveying a vehicle axially therethrough, said conduit systemincluding a loading portion located at a first region of said sectionand an unloading portion located at a second region of said mainsection, said loading and unloading portions being open to atmosphericpressure at both ends and including a dead-end section beyond each end,and said conduit system including air by-pass means arranged in parallelwith each said loading portion and said unloading portion, drive meansfor continuously producing a flow of air within said system for moving avehicle through said system, said drive means including a booster pumpbetween the loading and the unloading portions to maintain a negativepressure downstream of the loading station to said booster pump and apositive pressure from said booster pump to the unloading statiOn, aload carrying vehicle within said system, said vehicle having a bodyprovided with antifriction means for supporting the vehicle within saidmain section, said body being shaped to present a high coefficient ofdrag in said flow of air and having a maximum cross-sectional shapesmaller than said main section whereby the vehicle is swept along by themomentum of said air while providing a clearance space between theinterior of the conduit system and the vehicle to allow the aircontinuously to flow within said system.
 13. A mass transit system inaccordance with claim 5 wherein said air pumping devices each have aninlet communicating with said tube and jet outlet means discharginggenerally axially into said tube in the direction of vehicle travel, theinlet and jet outlet means of each air pumping device being disposed inclose adjacency.
 14. A vehicle transportation system in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said air pumping device has an air intake inducting afractional part only of the flowing air and having an air outletdischarging air substantially axially within the tube.
 15. A vehicletransportation system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means forproducing a continuously moving stream of air includes a fan devicehaving an air intake inducting a fractional part only of the flowing airand having an air outlet discharging air substantially axially withinthe tube.
 16. A vehicle transportation system in accordance with claim 1including means for diverting a portion of said air flow past each loadhandling portion whereby air may flow continuously through the mainsection while a vehicle is positioned at said load handling portion.